Pity Parties are Boring

Bear got his A level results today. For those not in the UK, these are nationwide, standardised tests typically sat by those who are 18 or nearly there. It's the final exam of secondary school and the marks are used to determine whether the student is accepted into a particular university or not. Those wishing to go to university will have already applied and been told which grades they need to achieve to be admitted. Some courses at some universities don't require high grades and some demand excellence. Bear got A* in Maths and A in Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science and is going to his university of choice. He is disappointed that he didn't get all A*. I'm incredibly proud of him. 

I'm trying not to overshare about bear. He's a legal adult now and I don't want to make him uncomfortable because of my posts. No doubt I'll share about his university later, but he's going to an excellent university with a really good reputation for the sciences. I've been hoarding Tesco Clubcard vouchers which I've used to outfit him with basic kitchen gear and bedding, which he has graciously approved, and I think that he'll do fine. Bear has voiced concerns that when he leaves, there won't be a responsible adult in the house. I can't really argue with that, but it's only for 70 days for the first term and I'm sure all of us will survive. 

I finally got my car back. The airbags were replaced and she's good to go. The car is now fine and seems to be feeling particularly feisty. Her natural driving preference is 90mph on the motorway in August. My natural driving preference is 30mph on a side road in February. I'm sticking to familiar roads at the moment until I get a little more into the swing. So far I've accidentally run a red at a road works - sort of, as I went past the light but stopped at the crossing until it changed before turing, then nearly clipped an ongoing car when swerving to avoid a bunny, well, not very nearly but it was within 500 yards and then I fishtailed all over the road when I swerved to avoid an owl sitting on the road. Bear is still asking for lifts so he can't be too traumatised, but I'm watching the speedo like a hawk because my normal driving is taking me a lot faster than I'm used to. I'm shooting out of the traffic lights like a whippet and I'm surprised that I haven't got a speeding ticket. Given my normal caution, if I get a speeding ticket then I'm going to frame it. 

I've finished a scarf.

And started another one for brother/his partner. 

And I have some extremely poor pics of the  replacement chilli plants. 

I'm hopeful that we'll get a harvest quite soon and be able to keep pickling. I'm obsessively watching them for pests but so far, they're clear.

Perhaps it's just as well that I've failed in the garden. We are in the middle of a drought and there's a hosepipe ban. I could go out and water the garden with a watering can, and the garden isn't that large, but perhaps it's just as well that there's nothing to see so nothing to suffer. I managed to kill all the herbs with neglect.

You know how I say that I'm going to do something and then almost immediately do the opposite? I could post, for example, that I'm going to concentrate on my knitting and the next day I will be doing almost anything else. So take this with a bucket of salt, but I mean it as I write it. My mental health is pretty poor at the moment, and I'm struggling with practically anything. I'm feeling worried and stressed about not posting on here and then worrying even more that I don't know what to post and feeling that I ought to be posting something interesting and the oughts in all aspects of my life are crushing me, so I plan to take a step back from this blog for at least a month. As I said a few sentances ago, that's barely worth the pixels that spell it out, but in theory I'll step away, take this tiny bit of pressure off, and come back and post triumphs, should they happen. 

There were two reasons I came here to post today. One is to boast about bear's results. The other is to remind everyone that I think that the people blogging in our community are amazing, wonderful, brilliant people who have done so much to help me over the years and that I'm profoundly grateful. I may currently be erratic but that doesn't mean that I don't value everyone who's been kind enough to stop by and everyone who's blogs have enriched, inspired and improved my life. 

Hugs and good health to all.